Magical Flinders

Equipped with a new air conditioning system to beat the heat whilst travelling in the kombi (a $1.45 plastic spray bottle filled with water from a Port Augusta bargain shop - Luke and I have turns spraying each other as we drive. Are we insane??!) we were back on the road and heading out of Port Augusta asap. Next stop, the Flinders Ranges National Park.

The trip out to the Ranges was a tad scary. There was nothing for 200km except for red dirt, signs that said 'Beware of Free Roaming Stock', a tiny place called Quorn, whose main street consisted of four open pubs (it was 10am in the morning) and that's it, but the silhouette of the Ranges in the distance was worth every second of the long, hot drive.

There are two caravan parks near the Flinders Ranges but we decided to stay at the 'resort' caravan park because it was right inside Wilpena Pound and closest to all the great bush walks you can go on. The 'resort' was pretty rustic and basic but sleeping under the pines and stringy bark gums was cool. Oh and the kangaroos and green parrots were as friendly as the Germans camping next door to us (Who, by the way, LOVED the 38 degree weather and thought that's how hot Australia was all the time. Nana German spent most of the day sunbaking in her camping chair in her undies).

We waited until 5pm before attempting the two hour walk into the Pound and still almost died and became adventuring legends like Bourke and Wills because it was so darn hot. We were also almost eaten by the flocks of wild goats that were doing a great job of scaring the bejesus out of us whilst destroying the native flora. But you'll get yours, little matey's - we saw signs everywhere saying that the National Park would be closing the very next weekend for a massive 'feral' clean up. Mwahahah! (Evil laugh). But sweat, blood and tears aside (Okay, that's a little dramatic) and we arrived at the top lookout for a spectacular view over the Pound. And they say it's even better by air.

The next morning, we made an unusually early departure from our camp site so we could beat the heat and do another 2 hour walk to some Aboriginal artwork in caves near the base of the Ranges. What an amazing experience. And what timing we had, as we arrived at the scared site just before a local tour guide rocked up with two cashed up British tourists who had paid the guy to escort them to the artwork. The 20 minute commentary on the significance of the 5,000 year old site was great! Thanks, Mike. Cheques in the mail.

38 degrees or not, a side trip from Port Augusta to the Flinders Ranges is pretty special. Having said that, a bush walk in scrub land just out of Taree, NSW would have been breath taking too, when you're coming from Port Augusta.

Yours in the great outdoors,

Odette